SAM #140802-27-0019

NOAA maritime pilot services for the Fairweather’s Canadian Inside Passage transit

NOAA plans a proposed sole-source purchase of local maritime pilot services for the NOAA Ship Fairweather’s transit through the Canadian Inside Passage. - Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marine Operations Center, Acquisition, Accountability, and Analysis Branch. - Proposed provider: The Pacific Pilotage Association of Canada. - Service: Supply certified maritime pilots for the vessel’s transit through the Canadian Inside Passage. - Pilots must know local routes, traffic patterns, waterborne and navigational hazards, and other conditions that affect safe passage. - Sole-source rationale: NOAA cites the pilots’ local certifications and experience. - Notice status: This is a special notice, not a request for competitive quotes. Firms that believe they can meet the requirement may submit a sufficiently detailed capability statement for NOAA to consider whether to compete the procurement. - Timing: Associated with FY27; specific dates and service duration are not stated.

Description

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

NOAA's Marine Operations Center, Acquisition, Accountability, and Analysis Branch, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with The Pacific Pilotage Association of Canada for Maritime Pilot services during transit through the Canadian Inside Passage. Certified Maritime Pilots maintain a broad knowledge of local waterborne and navigational hazards; navigational routes and traffic patterns, and other local hazards presenting potential issues to marine egress.

Sole Source Justification

The sole source determination is based on NOAA vessels occasionally transiting through certain waterways which present or may contain specific waterborne hazards or navigational complexities. In the event that NOAA vessels rarely transit these waterways, command can choose to mitigate risk by hiring local certified maritime pilots which maintain specialized knowledge and certifications. Certification requirements for maritime pilots can include having a minimum number of days on a specific local coast as a Master, or a combination of time periods serving as both a Master and holding a Watchkeeping Mate’s certificate, or a specific time frame on a local coast holding a Watchkeeping Mate’s certificate. Maritime Pilots are hired through specific pilot associations, typically maintained near complex shipping routes or hazardous waterways around the world.  

Special Notice

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or service that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses can be sent via e-mail to isaac.bright@noaa.gov.  A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with this notice, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 1600 PM PDT on October 28, 2026.  The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Incomplete statements do not warrant consideration.

All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read:

Announcement Number: 140802-27-0019

Project Title: NOAAS Fairweather Maritime Pilot Services – Canadian Inside Passage FY27

NOAA's Marine Operations Center, Acquisition, Accountability, and Analysis Branch requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company unless registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a valid Tax ID number and obtain a government-provided Unique Entity Identifier, which is available through SAM.gov.

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